I Left My House Empty Three Days Before Christmas

background, trying to sound calm because men like him think volume is the only thing that makes anger look ugly. “Margaret, we’re trying to work this out.”

I ignored him. “Did you tell Jenny she’d help with the little ones?”

Diane answered too fast. “She offered.”

“She’s thirteen.”

“She’s mature.”

“She’s a child.”

I heard Jenny then, faint but clear enough.continue reading …